Electrical parking device



Nov. 24,1936. H S J HNS 2,061,875

ELECTRICAL PARKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 24, 1936. 5, JOHNS ELECTRICAL PARKING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 21, 1935 INVENTO N0 9 24, 1936. H. s. JOHNS 2,061,875

ELECTRICAL PARKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 i 35m 1 7a 69 Nov. 24, 1936. H. s. JOHNS 2,061,875

ELECTRICAL PARKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 24, 1936 PATENT OFFICIE ELECTRICAL PARKING DEVICE Herman S. Johns, Oklahoma City, Okla., assignor to Dual Parking Meter Company, Oklahoma City, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Application December 21, 1935, Serial No. 55,646

6 Claims.

My invention relates to parking meters, and more particularly to coin receiving meters for collecting for the parking of vehicles and the like.

The prime object of the present invention is the provision of a device of this class which not only utilizes a coin for the purpose of indicating elapsed and unelapsed parking time but is particularly designed for electrical operation through an impulse of electrical energy controlled by a clock or other mechanism capable of providing such an impulse intermittently.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a device of this class which is new, novel, practical and of utility; which utilizes the coin as a means for indicating whether or not the parking space being used has been paid for; which will permit the use of a central control unit acting to operate a plurality of the parking devices, thus making it possible to regulate such devices to accommodate various parking periods by the mere adjustment of the control unit; which displays for inspection the last coin inserted, thus preventing use of slugs, and the like; which is simple in construction; which is durable; and, which will be efiicient in accomplishing all the purposes for which it is intended.

With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear hereinbelow, my invention con sists in the construction, novel features, and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claims hereto appended, and illustrated in the accompanying four-sheet draw ing, of which,

Figure l is a perspective view of the device mounted upon a post;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the mechanism for connecting the head of the device to the post and showing an electrical terminal carried there y;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of a slightly difierent embodiment of the device from that shown in Fig. l;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a coin recep tacle used in connection with the device;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a slightly diil'erent embodiment than those shown in Figs. 1 and 3;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the device operatively installed upon a supporting post;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1.1 of Fig. 6;

Figure -8 is an elevational view of the magnetically operated mechanism for controlling movement of a coin within the device;

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8 looking at the right-hand side of the device as it is shown in Fig. 8;

Figure 10 is a bottom view of the operating mechanism looking at the bottom of the head of the device;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical system;

Figures 12 to 17 inclusive are schematic side elevational views detailing the various steps used in moving the coin within the device;

Figure 18 is a detail of a slightly difierent embodiment of cam than the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 12 to 17;

Figures 19 to 24 inclusive are fragmentary elevational views of a coin, the coin contacting mechanism, and illustrating various steps by which the coin is moved within the device; and,

Figures 25 and 26 are fragmentary elevational views showing two different manners in which movement of the coin maybe obtained.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in all the figures.

It is understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, shape, weight, material and other details of construction, within the scope of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or broad principle oi my invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof; and it is also understood that the drawings are to be interpreted as being illustrative and not restrictive.

The inventive idea involved is capable of re ceiving a variety of mechanical expressions one of which, for the purpose of illustrating the in venticn, is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:--

The reference numeral 8 indicates as a whole an upstanding head having at its lower end a depending tubular sleeve portion 2 adapted to fit over a supporting post 3 which may be rigidly disposed in any suitable manner adjacent a parking space. As a means for mounting the upon the post I provide a tubular bushing 4 having a transverse threaded bore 5 in one of its walls and having its upper portion enlarged circumferentially to provide an abrupt shoulder 8. The enlargement of the bushing 4 is indicated by the reference numeral l and its upper surface supports an upstanding pin 8 which is made integral with the enlargement l or which is rigidly 0 attached thereto in any suitable manner. Adjacent its upper end the pin 8 is provided with an annular groove 9. The upper surface of the enlargement l is also equipped with an upstanding electrical terminal H) of. a suitable elec- 55 trical insulating material through which extends an electrical conductor II the upper end |2 of which projects slightly above the terminal III for a purpose more fully described hereinbelow.

The upper end of the post 3 is beveled downwardly and outwardly and the lower surface of the enlargement I is similarly beveled so that when the bushing is placed within the upper end of the post the enlargement will seat upon the beveled surface of the post with sufilcient accuracy to prevent entrance of moisture. The upper portion of the.post 6 is provided with a transverse perforation IS and the lateral bore 6 of the bushing 4 is provided with a stud bolt 4 which is adapted to be screwed outwardly through the bore 6 and into the perforation It for holding the bushing firmly in place upon the post.

As may best be seen in Fig. 4 a suitable coin receiving container I6 is provided for insertion into the central bore of the bushing 4. The upper end of the container l6 isequipped with a top H -which forms an outstanding annular flange adapted to seat upon the upper surface of the enlargement I and thus support the container. The top I1 is provided at one edge with a notch or groove I6 which is adapted to partially fit around the pin 6 for holding the container against rotation with relation to the bushing 4. The top ll of the container is provided with a suitable coin receiving chute IQ of any desired type but which is preferably so formed that coins can not be removed from the container by inverting the same. The container is provided with an opening through which the coins may be removed and the dotted lines in Fig. 4 indicate the imaginary position of a gummed paper seal which is ordinarily placed around the container covering the opening 26 before the empty container is installed within the bushing 4.

The portion of the head I lying above the upper end of the sleeve 2 is provided with two alined vertical openings which are each closed by a transparent pane 2|. The panes are parallel with each other and are spaced sumciently apart to provide therebetween a coin passage which communicates at its upper end with two converging slots 23 formed in the head. The outer ends of the slots 23 are each perferably equipped with a facing plate 24 having a slot 25 therethrough which is of a dimension barely sufficient to permit the passage of a coin 26 of specific denomination.

The upper end of the sleeve portion 2 of the housing is partially closed by transverse partition 21 which also partially closes the lower end of the housing proper. The upper surface of the partition 21 forms an abrupt shoulder 26,'and the partition is bored adjacent one of its edges to receive a conventional key operated locking device 29, the upper end of which is preferably protected against the elements by a usual flap 36. As may best be seen in Fig. 10, the lock mechanism includes a pivotally mounted tongue 3| which is adapted to be engaged and disengaged with the groove 6 around the upper end of the pin 8 by use of a key, not shown, when the head is installed upon the post 3 and over the bushing 4.

The periphery of the enlargement l is provided with anoutstanding lug or rib |6 which is adapted to coact with a similarly shaped groove 32 carried by the inner surface of the sleeve portion 2 of the housing, for insuring registration of the tongue 6| with the groove 6 on the pin 6.

At opposite sides of the coin passage 22, the head I is provided with cavities 26 and 36 which communicate with the passage 22 and which lie in the same plane therewith. At the upper and "lower ends respectively of the caviity 26 the wall of the housing I is provided with integral depending partitions 61 and 66 which divide the respective ends of the cavity 36 into narrower portions 26 and 40. A strap-like coin contacting element 4|, preferably of metal, and which is of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the coin 26, is slidably disposed within the cavity 36. The element 4| at its upper end is reduced in width as indicated by the reference numeral 42 and the reduced portion is slidably confined in the portion 69 of the cavity 66. At its lower end the element 4| is equipped with a widened portion 43 which has an upstanding projection 44 slidably confined in the portion 46 of the cavity 26. The edge of the element 4| lying next adjacent the coin passage 22 is equipped with a plurality of equidistantly spaced teeth or protuberances 46 which project a slight distance into the coin passage.

Slidably disposed in the cavity 36 is a second coin contacting element 46 which is identical at its lower end portion with the lower portion of the element 4|, having a widened portion 41 and upstanding projection 46 corresponding respectively to the portions 42 and 44 of the element 4|. The projection 46 is slidably confined in a portion 49 of the'cavity 66 which corresponds to the portion 46 of the cavity 66. At its upper end the element 46 has a narrow portion 60 corresponding to the portion 42 of the element 4| and which is slidably confined within a narrow slot 6| in the head I shaped similarly to the portion 29 of the cavity 36.

As may best be seen in Fig. 6, the elements 4| and 46 have their lower ends disposed in horizontal alinement when they are both at the lower ends of their permitted-strokes, however, the element 46 is somewhat longer than the element 4|, and its protuberances 52, which project slightly into the coin passage 22, are staggered with relation to the protuberances 46 carried by the element 4|. The protuberances 52 are all spaced from each other the same distance as are the teeth 45 with the exception of the upper one 63 which is slightly farther from the adjacent tooth 52 than are the other teeth from each other.

A pin 54 carried by the head I adjacent the upper end of the coin passage 22 and projecting into the coin passage is positioned oppositely and slightly below. the protuberance 53. The distance between the tooth 63 and the pin 54 is such that when the element 46 is at the lower end of its throw, the coin 26 is prevented from downward movement within the coin passage. However, should the element 46 be moved upwardly a slight distance, the coin would be permitted to gravitate downwardly past both the pin 54 and tooth 53. The respective adjacent teeth 45 and 52 below the pin 54 are so spaced from each other that when the elements 4| and 46 are at the lower ends of their permitted strokes, the coin is held against downward movement. I call attention to the fact that this pin 64 is very necessary to the operation of my device because the elements 4| and 46 are being constantly reciprocated alternately, and it is never known what will be the relation of the two elements at the time a coin is dropped into the device. The pin 64 prevents jambing of a ing upward at the particular time Such locking oi the coin between the elements would tend to spread them apart, possibly bend them or bend the projection, and thus render the device inoperative. The spacing of the two elements 46 and 4| must necessarily be very accurate.

In order to permit the coin to pass downwardly within the passage, the upper one of either the tooth 45 or 52 which two are supporting the coin must be raised. In otherwords the elements 4i and 46 must be raised alternately a suflicient distance to make the distance between the teeth 45 and 52, which are then supporting the coin, greater than the diameter of the coin. A means for controllably moving the elements 4| and 46 upwardly and downwardly will be fully described hereinbelow, suiiice to say at this point that the speed with which the coin may descend through the passage is governed by the time elapsing between strokes of the elements, and these intervals will be governed by a suitable timing mechanism.

One complete cycle in the operation of the elements 4| and 46 is illustrated in Figs. 19 to 24 inclusive. As depicted in Fig. 19 both of the elements 4| and 46 are at the lower ends of their permitted travel and the coin 26 has been inserted into the upper end of the coin passage where it has come to rest upon the tooth 53 and the pin 54, the distance between the two being less than the diameter of the coin. Upon the first upward stroke of the element 46 the coin will roll to the left hand and downwardly over the pin 54, and will be supported upon the two uppermost teeth 45 and 52. .The coin in this position is illustrated in Fig. 20. In Fig. 21 the element 46 is shown after it has returned to its original position, or to the lower end of its throw. It will be noted at this point that in neither the position shown in Fig. 20 nor in Fig. 21-is the distance between the two supporting teeth greater than the diameter of the coin, and that therefore in both of the figures the coin rests upon the same or uppermost two teeth 45 and 52.

It may be understood that the upward stroke of the element 46 which is required to drop the coin past the pin 54 is very minute. 'In Fig. 19

the distance between the lines D represents the distance above its horizontal center at which the tooth 53 contacts the edge of the coin when the element 46 is at the lower end of its throw, and the distance E represents the distance below such center of the coin at which the rim of the coin is contacted by the pin 54. The distance F represents the distance between the uppermost tooth 45 and the pin 54 when the element 4| is at the lowermost.end of its stroke. These distances are all proportional to the distance C and its relation to the diameter of the coin 26.

When the element 46 is moved to the upper end of its throw, as depicted in Fig. 20, the uppermost one of the teeth 52 has moved upwardly almost into alinement with uppermost tooth 45. When in this position the distance F remains the same as in Fig. 19, but the distance D of Fig. 19 has increased to the distance J plus G of Fig. 20, and F minus J represents the distance below the center of the coin at which the uppermost tooth 45 contacts the rim of the coin. The difference between the relative position of the coin as shown in Figs. "19 and 20 is equal to the vertical distance (E minus D) plus the distance (F minus J).

The next operation is the lowering oi the element 46 to its original position as shown in Fig. 21. When in this position, E and F are the same as they were in Fig. 19, however, D now represents the distance above the coins center at which the uppermost one of the teeth 45 contacts the rim of the coin. The vertical distance downward which the coin has moved from its position shown in Fig. 20 is represented by the distance K. This distance could be reached by the equation D plus (F minus J) equals K.

The next step in the operation is the upward movement of the element 4|. Fig. 22 illustrates the positions of the coin 26 and the elements 4| and 46 after this step has been made. F minus i-I equals the length of stroke made by the element 4 i. The distance E remains the same, and L minus (F plus D) equals the downward distance the coin moved in the step. The coin is now supported upon the uppermost tooth 52 and the second tooth 45.

The next step is the downward movement of the element 4| to its original position, and the elements and coin are shown in Fig. 23 in their positions after the step has been made. The distance E remains the sameand the distance F is the same as it was in Fig. 21.

M minus L equals the distance downwardly which the coin traveled during the step. D represents the distance above the center of the coin at which the uppermost tooth 52 contacts the rim of the coin. This distance is the same as was represented in Fig. 19 with relation to the tooth 53. In other words D, E, and F in Figs. 19, 21 and 23 are the same respectively.

When in this position the coin has traveled through the first complete cycle of the device's operation and is in the same position in relation to the uppermost tooth 52 and the second tooth 45 as it is shown in Fig. 19 with relation to the tooth 53 and the pin 54.

The next step, which is the starting step of a new cycle, is the upward movement of the element 46, and permits the left band edge of the coin to move downwardly past the uppermost tooth 52 into contact with the second tooth 52. The positions of the elements 46 and 4| and the coin after the step has been made is shown in Fig. 24. G and F are the same as they were in Fig. 20. N minus M equals the distance the coin moved downwardly in the step.

Further steps in the cycle are a repetition of the steps described with relation to Figs. 21, 22,

23, and so on, until the coin finally reaches the lower end of the coin passage 22.

As a means for operating the elements 4| and 45 to make their respective upward and-downward movements, the following described mechanism is provided:

A metal frame or housing 60 is attached by screws 6| to the nether surface of the previously described transverse partial partition 21 in lower end of the housing. The frame consists substantially of a top plate 62 which receives the screws 6| and which joins integrally the upper ends of two depending side plates 63 and 64. The side plate 64 is equipped at its lower end with two spaced perpendicularly extending ears or flanges 65, and the lower end of the side plate 63 is equipped with a single outstanding flange 66.

Rigidly supported against the nether surface of the top plate 62 by any suitable means, not shown, is a pair of electro-magnets 01 and which are wired in series as will be more fully described hereinbelow and which are energized simultaneously upon a single electrical impulse.

Along the inside face of the side plate 03 is Journaled a shaft 00 in spaced bearings carried by the plate 03 and one of which is indicated by the reference numeral 10 (Fig. 9). The magnets 81 and 08 are spaced apart sufllciently to permit operation therebetween of a ratchet-wheel Ii which is keyed to the central portion of the shaft 69.

Extending between the two side plates 03 and 04 and projecting outwardly in both directions through slots provided therefor is a movable contact plate I! which is of suitable metal to be afl'ected by magnetic influence, and which is sufllciently near the lower and exposed ends of the cores of the magnets to be lifted by them when the magnets are energized.

A pair of coil springs ll rest upon the upper surfaces of the two ears 00 and act to normally hold one end of the plate I! to the upper limit of the slot in the side plate 04 through which the plate 12 extends. The end of the plate I2 which extends through the side plate 03, is normally held by action of the springs ll, at the lower end of the slot through which it extends, and an adjustment screw ll permits adjustment of the normal position of said end in order to regulate the normal distance between the central portion of the plate and the lower ends of the magnets.

The upper ends oi the two slots in the side members 02 and 04 are so located with relation to the lower ends of the cores of the,magnets, that the contact plate I2 is prevented from actual contact with the cores when the magnets are energized. This is to expedite the speed with which the plate may leave the cores after the magnets are de-energized.

Carried by the lower end 01' the contact plate I2 is an upwardly extending pawl I0 oi a resilient material which contacts theteeth of the ratchet wheel II and acts to cause its rotation for a slight distance each time the lower end of .the plate I2 is moved to the upper end of its throw by the magnets.

Lying between the magnets 01 and 60, and rotatably mounted on the lower end of a straplike spring I0 is a roller II which contacts the ratchet wheel II on the edge opposite to the one engaged by the pawl. The spring 16 and roller I'l act to hold the ratchet wheel against rotation at all times except when it is forced to do so by the pawl, and to insure proper positioning of the ratchet after each stroke of the pawl.

Keyed to each end of the shaft 00 is a cam. The cams upon theshaft are designated by the reference numerals I0 and I0 and their omces will be more fully described hereinbelow.

With one end of each pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 80 carried by ears 0| on opposite sides of. the side plate 03 are two rocker arms 82 and 83. Both arms extend between the two side plates 63 and 04 and their free ends extend through slots provided therefor in the side plate 64. The slots are each of a sumcient vertical dimension to permit an upward movement of the free ends of the arms. The free end of each rocker arm is bifurcated and receives between its tines a pin "-A or 04-48, as the case may be. The arm 02 is connected by its pin 04-.A to the lower end of the previously described element I in the housing I, while the arm 03 is connected by its pin "-13 to the lower end of the element ll. Consequently vertical movement of the respective arms 82 and 03 will cause upward movement of the elements I and 40 respectively.

One side of each of the rocker arms is equipped with a shoe 05 (Fig. 12) which is so located that it is contacted by one of the respective cam or I9, so that rotation of the cams will cause the rocker arms and consequently the elements 4i and 46 to be raised or lowered. The particular positions upon the shaft 09 of the two cams with relation to each other will be more fully described hereinbelow.

The lower surface of the flange 00 is equipped with a resilient electrical contact plate 00 which is so positioned that when the head i is in place upon the post 3, the plate will contact the upper end of the terminal I2 of the element 4 (Figs. 4, 6, 8 and 10). The contact plate 06 is electrically insulated from the flange 60 and a wire, not shown, is operatively connected to convey electricity to the magnets.

In Fig. 11' is shown a wiring diagram whereby a plurality of the devices may be simultaneously operated by the operation of a single switch. In this figure the reference numeral I00 indicates a seat of electrical energy connected to ground IM and through a switch I02 and a wire I03 to a plurality of wires II (Fig. 2) which in turn lead to a plurality of sets of the magnets 61 and 00. The magnets 01 and 60 of each set are wired in parallel with each other and with a ground I04. It may readily be seen that operation of the switch I02 will control energization of all of the sets of the magnets simultaneously. In operation it is intended that operation of the switch will be controlled to open and close at desired periods of time by a clock or similar mechanism, not shown. It is intended that the switch be closed each time only for an instant so that the plate I2 may instantly return to its lowermost position after each impulse.

In Figs. 12 to 17 inclusive is shown relative positions of the earns 10 and I0 with relation to each other, and their action in operating the arms 02 and 03 and consequently the elements 4| and 40 respectively.

In Figs. 12 and 13 respectively the two cams I9 and I0 are in such positions as to permit the arms 03 and 02 to rest at the lower ends of their throws, and consequently the elements 40 and ll are at the lower ends of their throws or in the positions illustrated in Figs. 19, 21 and 23. Should the switch I02 now be closed, for an instant of time only, the magnets 01 and 88 will be energized, the lower end of the plate 12 will be drawn upwardly by the magnets, and the pawl I5 will rotate the ratchet wheel II a distance equal to the stroke of the pawl. This rotation of the ratchet wheel will rotate the cams I9 and I0 simultaneously from their respective positions as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 to the positions shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

When this action has taken place, it will be noted (Figs. 14 and 15) that the arm 03 has been raised, but that the arm 82 is left remaining at the lower end of its throw. When the arm 03 is raised, the element 46 is of course also raised, or has reached the position as shown in Fig. 20. The element I has not yet moved.

The next stroke of the pawl will cause the cam 69 to break its contact with its shoe 00 which will drop the arm 00 and element 00 to the lower ends of their throws. The two cams will now be 76 in the positions illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17. The cam 18 has not as yet contacted its shoe 65 and cpnsequently the arm 82 has not yet been moved. The elements 46 and 4| will now be in the positions shown in Fig. 21.

At this point in the operation,the cam 73 will be in the same position with relation to its arm 82 v(Fig. 17) as was the cam 19 in relation to its arm 83 (Fig. 12) when description of their operations was started. The next two movements of the ratchet will cause the cam it? to affect the arm 82 and element 4| in an identical manner as that above described with relation to the cam 19. In other words the first movement will place the element 4| in the position shown in Fig. 22 and the next will lower it into the position shown in Fig. 23. During these two steps the cam I9 has not effected the lowered po sition of the arm 83 and the element 46.

Further operation is a repetition of the steps already described hereinabove. It must be understood, of course, that the length of stroke of the pawl 15' and the size and relative positions of the cams must be properly co-related in order to accomplish the desired results.

In Fig. 18 is shown a cam 81 which is a slightly difi'erent type from cams l8 and 19. The cam 8'! consists substantially of a disc 86 having perpendicular pins or rollers 89 projecting from one of its faces. The pins which are triangularly spaced from each other act in lieu of the triangular cam 18 or 19.

In the above description in relation to the downward movement of the coin within the passage 22, the steps have been described as though the elements 46 and 4| were held stationary for a period of time at the upper ends of their respective strokes. This is true in one, probably the preferred embodiment of the device. However, if it becomes desirable to increase or practically double the speed of travel of the coin through a passage 22 of a given length with out altering the mechanism controlling the switch I02, it may be accomplished by raising them and instantly dropping them back to their original positions. This operation is illustrated in Fig. 25, and under such operation, the coin will move from a position as illustrated in solid lines to the next dotted line position therebelow each time the element 46 is raised and dropped, and will move from a position illustrated by dotted lines to the next position therebelow illustrated in solid lines each time the element 4| is reciprocated. Of course, modification in the cam mechanism must be made in order to accomplish this operation.

In Fig. 26 is illustrated an embodiment of the coin tripping mechanism, including the elements 4| and 46, and the pin 54, which will accomplish a result similar to that accomplished by the embodiment illustrated in Fig.6, but which operates in a slightly different manner.

In this embodiment the elements 4| and 46 are normally held at the upper ends of their throws by any suitable means such as springs, not shown. The cams may be used to alternately force the elements downwardly and release them to their uppermost positions either in the same timed relation as inthe first described embodiment or as in that embodiment described with relation to Fig. 25. In this embodiment the coin will move from a position illustrated in full lines to the next dotted line position therebelow each time the element 46 is lowered and again raised,

and from a dotted line to the next full'line position therebelow upon each similar movement 01' the element 4|.

If during operation of the device, the coin is inserted into the passage 22 at a time when the element 46 is at the upper end of its stroke, it will be evident that the coin will roll past the pin 54 and will assume the position shown in Fig. 20.

Gbviously, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other than that which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described herein, and applicable for uses and purposes other than as detailed, and I therefore consider as my own all such modifications and adaptations and other uses of the form of the device herein described as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my' invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the class described, a hous ing, a coin passage carried by the housing and extending downwardly therein, a reciprocatably mounted coin contacting element extending along the passage at each edge thereof, each element having spaced projections extending into the passage, the projections of both elements adapted to cooperatively support a coin in the passage, and means for alternately moving each of the elements while the other remains stationary for permitting downward move-- ment of the coin past the supporting projection of the stationary element.

2. In a device of the class described, a head, a downwardly extending coin passage within the head, alined transparent walls for the passage, a reciprocatably mounted coin contacting element extending along the passage at each edge thereof, each element having spaced projections extending into the passage, said projections adapted to support a coin in the passage, means for alternately moving one of the elements while the other remains stationary for permitting downward movement of the coin past the supporting projection of the stationary element, means for controlling entry of the coin between the elements in timed relation with their movements, a support for the head, a coin receptacle carried by the support for receiving coins from the passage, and means for locking the head upon the support.

3. In a device of the class described, a housing, a coin passage carried by the housing and extending downwardly therein, means also carried by the housing for lowering a coin in the passage at one step at a time, and means for preventing a coin in the passage from being engaged by said lowering means until at least two elements of said lowering means are in a certain predetermined relation.

4. Organization as described in claim 1, and means for preventing a coin from entering between the two elements except when their relative movement is such that the coin will not be jambed between adjacent projections of the elements.

5. A coin handling mechanism comprising a pair of cooperating parallel reciprocatably mounted coin engaging elements having spaced projections along their adjacent edges, and means for imparting a reciprocatory movement to the elements alternately, each element remaining stationary while the other element travels upward and downward within its limit 6 spams of movement, whereby a coin engaged by the prothe adjacent edges 01' the elements, and mechajections on the elements is permitted to move nism for reciprocating the elements alternately. downwardly therebetween by consecutive steps. to permit a downward step by step travel of a 6. A coin handling mechanism comprising a coin engaged by the projections on the elements. 5 pair of parallel reciprocatably mounted coin engaging elements, spaced projections carried by HERMAN B. JOHNS. 

